The Thanksgiving Table

To me, Thanksgiving is all about reflection, food, and family. Last year, I reflected on the imperfections of the world at large. I talk and think about food all the time, so that wouldn’t be anything new. So this year, I will focus on family.

The food stays the same, but who sits around the Thanksgiving table has changed over the years. I have fleeting memories of when my grandparents were alive and would spend the holidays with us. I have a small family, so we were able to have my grandmother and my nana and papa with us, as well as my first cousins and their parents comfortably. I spent all of my holidays with my cousins when I was young. We are the same age and my father was always close to his brother.

But over the years, we grew apart from my cousins. Life just got really hard and somehow our connection weakened. It’s pretty sad since we live so close to each other. I hope that one day we are able to reconnect, but if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s really hard to keep a family close.

So your family grows and changes. My fiance also has a small family, so we’ve started a tradition of spending the holidays with both sets of parents at the same time. I consider myself lucky because I don’t have to split the holidays and try to balance to separate families. Together, we are one family, and it didn’t even take grand kids to make that happen.

My brother, however, married into a big family that lives partially in Virginia. This year, he is spending my nephew’s first Thanksgiving with his wife’s family. I will certainly miss them.

It will be interesting to see how this holiday continues to evolve. I picture hosting it one day in my own home, with my kids and both sets of grandparents around the table.

So this year, I am thankful for my family. No matter how we may get on each other’s nerves, we are there for each other. Times have been really tough, but we at least have each other.

Like this:

I’m sorry that I have to work today, so I won’t get to meet your parents (or Humphry, for that matter). With every passing year my appreciation grows for the Holidays and I long for spending time with what little is left of my family. Thankful, yes. Happy, no. Today the demands of employment (that I am lucky to have) supercede the desire to be with my family. Sometimes I feel it’s not worth it, but fear keeps me tied to the paycheck. Enjoy Thanksgivning, and know that I will be thinking of all of you.